Lodging  |     |     |     |     |     |   SARASOTA BOTANICAL GARDENS   Accommodations   Arts/Entertainment   Arts Festival   Baseball         Biking & Hiking   Birding   Boats & Kayaks   Botanical Gardens   Chalk Festival   Cheap Eats   Circuses / Animal Acts   Cultural Events   Dining   Dog Parks / Beaches   Drum Circle   Entertainment   Family Fun   Film Festival   Fishing   Free, Cheap & Chic   Nightlife   Off-shore Racing   Polo   Real Estate         Sand Sculpting   Sculling   Shelling   Shopping   Snorkeling / Scuba   Sporting Events   Sports      Trolley Sarasota’s Selby Gardens is perhaps best known for its living collection of more than 6,000 orchids. The 9.5-acre bay-front property is an open-air and under-glass museum of more than 20,000 colorful plants, many collected in the wild on over 150 scientific expeditions to tropical rain forests by Selby’s research staff. Seven greenhouses are the heart of botanical research and plant identification, for which Selby Gardens is internationally recognized. Selby is a "must-see" for serious plant lovers...and a should-see for shutterbugs seeking great photo ops. Over 9 acres nestled along Sarasota Bay, this peaceful retreat, just south of downtown, is said to be the only botanical garden in the world specializing in the preservation, study, and research of epiphytes— bromeliads and orchids that is. It's home to more than 20,000 exotic plants, as well as a bamboo pavilion, a butterfly and hummingbird garden, a medicinal-plant garden, a waterfall garden, a cactus and succulent garden, a fernery, a hibiscus garden, a palm grove, two tropical-food gardens, and a native shore-plant community with a boardwalk traversing a mangrove forest. The property opens to a lovely pergola and seating area with gorgeous bay views. Head back through awesome and beautiful banyans, cross the short but interesting canopy walkway and... don’t forget to photograph the "Bodi tree". This species was considered Buddha’s source of enlightenment. Also located on the grounds are the Nationally Registered Selby family home and the Payne Mansion where traveling art exhibits are displayed and beautifully decorated with poinsettias garlands and lights during the holiday season. Take a relaxing moment by the waterfall and koi pond then sip and munch at the Café under a canopy of banyans then on to the plant shop for wonderful finds. Beginning Mid-March, enjoy a Sunday afternoon at the Gardens to hear musical concerts under the banyan trees. A complete schedule of performers will be posted mid-March. Children’s Rainforest .COMING SOON The Gardens are open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day except Christmas Day. See for early holiday closings. Adults $17, Children 6-11 $6 For additional gardens in Sarasota and neighboring cities, please refer to: Gardens, Landscapes & Events!     Accommodations  |     |     |     |     |     |            Shops, Spas, Salons  Nearby Communities   (north to south)                                        Bookmark this page as one of your FAVORITES for a ready reference! ESI...Internet Marketing Services Div. of EXPLORING SARASOTA, Inc. Editor: Andrea J. Honroth E-Mail: Attn. BUSINESS OWNERS - For information regarding a listing, please visit our site.

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